This site, created in the United Kingdom, offers many timelines with a simple click to launch an amazing 3-dimensional page. Timelines are organized by subject matter and include samplings from literature, sociology, history, everyday life, science, technology, explorers, medicine, and more. With another click, you can zoom from one century to another. Start in the 1210s and work your way through the years. View the context of history using visual artifacts from DaVinci's contemporaries to shopping in the 1890s. Connect historical events or technological accomplishments by seeing them alongside simultaneous events, precursors, or results. An additional option allows you to save favorite timelines and/or events.

In the Classroom

This site is excellent for research projects or to provide visual context to your curriculum in social studies, world cultures, world history, literature, art, or western heritage classes. Offer this set of timelines as a research source for history, social studies, and literature classes. Show students these timelines on an interactive whiteboard. Or have students research various topics on their own using this fabulous tool. Pique their interest by letting them browse to find out what else happened at the same time as events in the standard history curriculum -- then ask WHY. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create online posters displaying their findings using an online poster creator, such as Padlet (reviewed here).

Create a map from addresses collected in a Google spreadsheet. Create an account using your email or through a Twitter or Facebook account. Connect with your Google account or use the friendly step by step help to create one on this site. Collect addresses using a Google Form. Create a map by choosing one of your spreadsheets where data has been collected. Instantly map these addresses using the Map a List tool. Make your maps public or private and share with others by downloading the KML file for opening in Google Earth. Use the tutorials at the bottom right for help with Map A List.

In the Classroom

Users must be familiar with using a Google form for collecting data and finding the spreadsheet in their list of documents. Users must have a Google account and an email address to register for Map A List. Create a class account for students to use. Publish your Google form on a blog, site, or wiki to collect entries to be used to make a map.

Use a Google form to collect addresses of various locations such as historic places students know, my most memorable vacation, where I live, or where my grandparents were born. Use to teach some basic map skills to younger students. Map locations of government services for a civics class, local locations of healthy activities or farmers markets in a health class, locations where students can find certain trees, insects, or other wildlife to name a few. Map the locations of anything collected in a Google Spreadsheet. Be sure that information collected is in address format so it can be mapped by this amazing tool.

The videos offer explanations of American symbols and offer insight into what could have been. For example, what if the turkey had been our national bird instead of the bald eagle? These interactive lessons have been designed for use on interactive whiteboards or projectors. Animated maps show what the different parts of the flag represent. Additional maps show the development of the flag into our current model. Upcoming videos to be released (after the time of this review) will include lessons on other American symbols such as Mt. Rushmore, The Liberty Bell, and monuments in Washington, DC.

In the Classroom

Show the video on your interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce a lesson on American Symbols. Ask students to brainstorms symbols that they know and discuss why they have become so important to Americans. Have students research one of the symbols discussed or one they have found on their own. Have students narrate a picture of the symbol using a tool such as ThingLink, reviewed here.

In this role playing activity, students must help the Guinard Family from Haiti receive an education and live a happy life. The activity takes place over four years and is divided into sixteen seasons. Students must assign roles to the family at the beginning of each season. As students complete the activity they must keep track of each family members statistics. Each member has statistics in the areas of Wellness, General health, Happiness, Emotional well-being, and Education. To win your family must survive for four years and the healthier and more educated your family is, the better you do in this activity.

In the Classroom

Take your students on a virtual trip to Haiti by sharing this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. The site would work well for individual or pairs of students in a lab or on laptops. Have them record information in current event journals. At the end of the game have students prepare a short presentation using PowerPoint or an online tool like 280 Slides reviewed here to share with the class on how their family did.

Solve the puzzle of the Narthex Stone through this game that practices coordinate geometry. A narrated demonstration shows you how to move the jeep along the coordinates to the identified points. The player is then given a point to locate, the key is to find the correct point without bumping into objects located along the way. Both positive and negative coordinates are included. As correct points are located, pieces of the stone are collected. Incorrect responses receive feedback to try again. Also included are lesson objectives and vocabulary included.

In the Classroom

Demonstrate coordinate points on the interactive whiteboard or projector using this game or activity. The jeep is moved by clicking along the correct direction so terms of north, south, east and west can be reviewed. What a fabulous way to connect math and basic geography skills! Take this one step further and use this as an introduction to longitude and latitude and how to plot exact locations on a map using map coordinates.

This large variety of drawings and photographs is a great resource for K-12 students and teachers. Either choose from drawings or photographs related to science, social studies, math, and language arts. These images will support classroom instruction, presentations, multimedia projects, websites, or reports. Useful tags will help you search for images. Educational use of Edpic images is free of charge.

In the Classroom

Create classroom lessons that are interactive and visual. The images on Edupic are useful for creating interactive whiteboard lessons such as sequencing the life cycle of a frog, labeling the phases of cell mitosis, or adding the dots on a the back of a ladybug. Visual representations will help ELL or ESL teachers explain concepts and key vocabulary. Use imagery to enhance multimedia posters on ThingLink, reviewed here, create digital stories, or bring a slide presentation to life.

Whiteboard Resources offers a variety of opportunities for teachers to use PBS Kids activities on an interactive whiteboard. The curriculum-rich activities include many skills such as letter/sound recognition, listening skills, vocabulary, measurement, gravity, mass and much more.

In the Classroom

Students will enjoy working on these sites together as a whole-group activity. After modeling the activities as a whole group, allow students to work on the same activities in small groups during center time. Use as a reinforcement or enrichment with core curriculum lessons. You may want to provide this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of class.

Community Walk maps out communities with place markers, photos, written and audio comments, and interactive media. Community Walk uses Google maps technology but is not an affiliate. Users can view maps as a satellite, terrain, or hybrid image. This site allows users to zoom in and out (using the arrows) and scroll across the map in any cardinal direction. Save time with "bulk edit" and download multiple locations at one time. Create multiple tabs and sort locations in a variety of ways. Place marker graphics include clip art icons of beds, cakes, airplanes, houses etc. Community Walk creates a custom URL for each map. It is possible to download the map as a .kml file and view it through Google Earth. More astute technology users may want to embed the map into a class website, blog, or wiki. This site may or may not be fully accessible inside your school filtering. You will want to check to be sure all portions you plan to use in class will be available using your school's network.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

This is a great site to use if teaching about communities, local government, map skills, or local history. Demonstrate how to use Community Walk on an interactive whiteboard. Together with your class map out community sites in the neighborhood. Bookmark the site on the classroom computers and have students practice marking locations. Ask the class to identify important government buildings or historical points of interest. Have the class research and mark the location of animal habitats such as forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra's, and oceans. Embed these maps into multimedia presentations on a class wiki about Biomes. For more information on wikis check out the TeachersFirst's Wiki Walk-Through. Compose history lessons that ask students to synthesize military strategy with geography. Track the historic marches of opposing forces and mark battle locations, encampments, natural resources, transportation systems, and significant ports. Color code each category and create a map legend. Link the journey's sequence of points and measure the distance in both kilometers and miles. Share these maps on your class web page for students to access as a reference and assist review before tests. Foreign language students, speaking in the language they are learning, can record narratives about points of interest in foreign countries. For example, students learning to speak French can upload narrative reports about various locations in Paris.

Create a map with or without an account. More features are available to those who register. Manipulate the map as you would on Google Maps (zoom, drag, etc). Add a place marker by either entering the name of the location, or address, or latitude and longitude. Community Walk automatically saves markers from previous made maps. Title each location and create a main category and subcategory to help with sorting later. You need to know how to upload files and images or insert an HTML directly into the description box. Adjustable settings will permit users to set privacy permissions and to disable comments from the public.

This is a site created in partnership with Google as a project to help generations share and talk more through social networking. The concept is that young people ask older people to share their photos; these photos are then uploaded through Google maps to show the world as it once was. The older pictures can be compared to today's images through Google street view. In addition to uploading photos, stories can also be shared about the time period and the pictures. Historypin is still in Beta stage; however, there are plans for events throughout the world to launch the site in the near future.

In the Classroom

Use as an enhancement to research projects of family, historic events, and world cultures by finding and uploading pictures to the map. Use Historypin as a resource to compare and contrast different time periods in the same geographic area. Demonstrate on the interactive whiteboard or projector how different places have changed over time. Have individual students or cooperative learning groups create podcasts using PodOmatic (reviewed here) to go along with the maps. ESL students will appreciate the ability to upload pictures and/or learn about their country of original.

This page from EnchantedLearning has basic information about China, as well as map activities, printable booklets, information on Chinese culture and review activities. The map activities are as basic as coloring a map of China, to a more difficult plotting activity of major Chinese landmarks, rivers and geographic regions.

In the Classroom

Use the mapping activities from this site as a classroom activity during a unit on Chinese geography or history. Print out the mapping worksheets, and have student pairs or cooperative learning groups complete the activity. This would be a great way to review Chinese geography, or bring in contextual information about the geography during a unit on Ancient or modern China.

This lesson plan created by Discovery Education attempts to teach students about the characteristics of Chinese writing and language. Through discussion and an activity, the lesson also attempts to cover some basic fundamental concepts of language. There are additional activities to continue the lesson if need be.

This site from "Mr.Donn," hosts lesson plans, interactives, and other resources to supplement a unit on Ancient or Modern China. The resources are grouped by historical period, touching upon topics such as the Song Dynasty, Marco Polo, and the Communist Revolution. Though TeachersFirst does not usually recommend lists of resources, this site has so many it made the exception!

In the Classroom

Save this site as a favorite and use it as a resource to find supplementary materials or lesson plans for a lesson or unit on China. Several of the activities would make great learning centers or stations as a review tool before an assessment or after immediate instruction. Be sure to save the sites as favorite on classroom computers, making it easier for students to navigate there.

Though we don't often recommend "lists" of links, this site hosts 19 links to games about or related to Ancient China. The games vary in age level and topic, ranging from Tangram squares, to review games and Calligraphy how-to's.

In the Classroom

Browse through this site to find activities to fit your specific class during a unit on Ancient China. After you've found games that can work, save them as favorites on classroom computers and use them as learning centers or stations. This would be a great way to review before an assessment or immediately after a lecture introducing the topic.

This interactive site offers definitions for numerous geography terms. You can search by letter, or simply scroll over the map and click on the word. The map moves left and right by clicking the arrows underneath the map. The map shows small visuals of what the vocabulary word is describing. Once you click on a word, the definition appears in a separate box and a speaker appears that you can click on to hear the word and definition read to you. The box also provides a small map or picture further describing the specific term.

In the Classroom

What a great addition to any class studying landforms, continents, bodies of water, and many other geography concepts. Be sure to save this site in your favorites. Share this site "on the big screen" using your projector or interactive whiteboard.

Miamiopia (currently in beta stage so not all features are fully operational) allows you to create a character called a Miamopian. Then the fun begins! "Miamiopia is where balloons go when they escape from the hands of humans." The balloons seek to improve themselves by learning about the world around them. Learning activities are located in each building found on the map and include music, history, dinosaurs and more. You then can customize the Miamiopian by earning coins as you play games, the coins can be used to purchase hair, clothing, and other accessories.

In the Classroom

Check school policies about setting up student accounts and passwords and be sure to keep a record of student passwords! No email is required. Set up at the computer center and keep a chart for each student's progress and points collected. Demonstrate on the interactive whiteboard or projector, record terms used during the games (ex: history - iron age, stone age, and bronze age) to research. This would be an ideal link to provide on your class website for students to access at home.

Placefy is an activity that uses pictures to teach you about world cities. There are two interactive to choose from: Cluesify or Classic. The interactives asks students to identify cities by displaying one picture at a time. Students are able to choose from among the various city choices. If students answer correctly they are sent to the next city otherwise they will start from the beginning. Correct answers will earn you points and you can jump levels. Students can even tweet and post their scores to Facebook.

In the Classroom

Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students explore this site independently or in small groups. This site is a good way to bring in the topic of historical building architecture and culture. Having students use the architectural details of the buildings and the way people are dressed can help them identify the correct city.

This site includes interactive maps for students to see and learn about countries and continents. There are maps for all the continents except Antarctica. The site also lets you show or hide names. If you choose to hide names, clicking on each country will provide you with the country name and it's capital. Be aware: there are some minor google advertisements at this website.

In the Classroom

Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge of countries, states, and capitals. The site also provides printable maps so you can have students write the names of countries, etc and then use the interactive map to self check. In addition, since it is a blank map, teachers can use the pens from their interactive whiteboard to draw in other physical features like rivers or mountain ranges.

Learn about the challenges facing polar bears due to climate change with this interactive site. Keep Walluk, the polar bear, moving by placing floating pieces of ice together to make a path to the end of the path. The activity increases in difficulty throughout the levels. In Chinook's Beat the Heat game, block the heat to bring platforms together, too much heat and they will melt. Tatqiq's Keep it Cool game challenges players to keep the thermometer as cool as possible for the polar bears. Links are also included to San Diego Zoo's polar bear exhibit and polar blogs.

In the Classroom

Use the site as a starting point for a conservation unit and explore the impact of climate change on polar bears. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center. Share this site on your classroom website or newsletter to be explored at home. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create a multimedia presentation such as an online book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.

Learn about elephants through this engaging interactive that takes you back to the time of mammoths. Keep your elephant alive by finding food and avoiding dangers such as saber tooth tigers. In addition, there are links to explore the elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, meet the elephants and watch videos of the elephants in action.

In the Classroom

Make a shortcut to this site on classroom computers and use it as a center during your animal unit. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore this site independently or in small groups. Use this site as a starting point for individual or group projects on animals and their habitats.

This site was created as a companion to Spike Lee's documentary "When the Levees Broke" about Hurricane Katrina. However, with the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf, the Louisiana levees were in the news again. The site contains a downloadable curriculum including lessons on the history of New Orleans, discussion of government's role in managing large-scale disasters, and concepts of environmental justice. There are links to other teachers' shared lesson plans, an accounting of the curriculum's relation to national social studies standards, and more information about the Spike Lee film itself.

In the Classroom

Use the site in conjunction with lessons on the US Gulf coast, or as an example of how we negotiate the government's role and responsibility in helping after a large-scale disaster. The menu includes access to pictures and comments from the general public. You will want to preview this area before sharing it in class. Have cooperative learning groups investigate specific areas of this site and create videos to share with the class using a site such as SchoolTube (reviewed here).

Comments

Very good resource for more than just one discipline. I used it in my Global Studies class. I loved it.Kevin, MS, Grades: 6 - 12